Means for checking picker sticks



Nov. 21, 1944. w. J. BUDZYNA MEANS FOR CHECKING PIGKER STICKS Filed Feb 19 1944 INVENTOR. WALTER J. BuDzYNA ATTORNEY Patented Nov.- 21, 1944' UNITED I STAT-Es I PATENT. p .IQFIFICZE Walter J Bud zyna, East Douglas, Massl, 'assignor to'Draper (lorporatipn; Hopedale, Mass, acorporat ion of Maine Application February' lil, 1944, Serial No. 423,039

6' claims} (o1; 139-165) The present invention relates to I picking mechanisms for vfiy shuttle looms and, 'as illus trated herein, relates more particularly to picker stick checking mechanisms.

One prior type of picker sticking checking mechanism comprises "a depending support attached to the lay beam and causing afiexiblej check strap loop within which-the picker stick oscillates and which is engaged and moved by the pickers'tick at each end of its oscillation. Indevices ofthis type it is necessary'to providefriction means for retarding the movement of the strap and also to providereadily accessible adjusting means for said friction means. In

such prior devices, it has not been possible 'con"' veniently and accurately to adjust the friction means andvhence proper checking of the picker stick has not always been effected.

One object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a picker stick checking mechanism wherein the friction means'may be conveniently and accurately adjusted. To this end, the present invention contemplates a bracket secured to the front surface of the lay and having thereon an angularly adjustable member carryinga pair of friction fingers which engage opposite faces of a check strap and which by reason of their angular adjustment, retard thecheck strap as itis' moved by the picker stick.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with particular referenceto the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig.1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of the left hand end of a lay embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan'view of in Fig. 1; v

g. 3 is a perspective view of the friction the mechanism shown fingers; and

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken along line IVIV of Fig. 1. Y Y

The drawing shows but a part of a loom having the invention applied thereto. The parts which are not shown may be of any usual construction and form no part of the present invention. l

Thedrawing shows a portion of the left hand end of a usual lay beam l0. The lay beam at ends thereof being clamped and supported in a bracket I8 of usual construction fixed to and.

, side of the lay opposite to the bracket l8 and provides means for supporting and checking the movement of the strap. The bracket 22 has a portion 24 which extends below and fits against the bottom of the lay'lll and also has a flange 26Qwhich'extends upwardly against the front side of the lay. The bracket '22 is secured to the lay by bolts 28 which extend through slots 36 formed in'the portion 24. The flange 26 is provided with a forwardly extending shelf or support 32 which supports a frame 34; having friction fingers 36and 38 thereon.

The frame 34 is angularly adjustable on the bracket 22 in order to vary the path of movement of the check strap l6. clude's an upper horizontal portion 40 connected to, or formed as a part of, the 'frictionfinger. 38. A hole is provided in the free end portion of the portion 4!] for receiving a bolt 42 which passes upwardly and through a hole formed in theforwardlly extending shelf 32. The bolt acts as a pivot aboutwhich the frame 34 is rotated to adjust the position of the fingers 36, 38 relatively to the bracket 22 and as ame'ans for locking the friction finger frame in adjusted position. The lower ends of the fingers 36, 38, are connected by a horizontal frame member 44. The

' portion 40 of the friction finger frame 34 is provided with a forwardly projecting tongue 46 vwhich may conveniently be gripped by a pair of pliers or a wrench to move the frame into adjusted position and to hold the same in said position while the clamping nut 48 is beingtightened.

The portion 40 is located angularlywith respect to the portion 44 so that when the friction finger frame is rotated the position of the fingers 36, 38 will be varied relativelytothe path of movement of the check strap I6 when it is moved by the picker stick. For example, if the frame is rotated in a clockwise direction from the posistrap l6. willbe caused to follow a more sinuous path and hence the retarding action of. the

fingers 36, 38 is increased. If on the other hand, it is desired to decrease the retarding effect of the friction fingers, the frame can be rotated in the opposite direction and thus provide a less sinuous path for the check strap to follow. I

Having thus described a preferred embodiment- The frame 34 in of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A frictiondevice for a picker stick check mechanism of the type wherein a flexible looped check strap is located below the lay and within which the picker stick oscillates, said device including a bracket fixed to the lay, a frame pivotally secured to said bracket for adjustment thereon, a pair of friction fingers fixed to said frame and engaging opposite faces of the check strap to cause the check strap to follow a sinuous path when moved by the picker stick, and means for locking said frame in adjusted position.

2. A friction device for a picker'stick check mechanism of the type wherein a flexible looped check strap is located below the lay and within and a pair of connected friction fingers arranged to engage opposite faces of said check strap and to retardmovement of the picker stick as the latter approaches the limit of its oscillating movement, a pivotal connection between said frame and said shelf, and means for lockin said frame in adjusted position.

5. A picker stick check mechanism for fly shuttle looms having a lay and a picker stick, said mechanism including a flexible looped check strap within which the picker stick oscillates, means attached to one side of the lay for supporting which the picker stick oscillates, said device ineluding a bracket fixed to the lay, a supporting ledge on said bracket, an ,angularly adjustable frame pivotally secured to said ledge for adjustment thereon and having a pair of spaced friction fingers arranged to engage opposite faces of the check strap to retard movement of the picker stick when engaged thereby as the picker stick approaches the limit of its oscillating movement, and means for locking said frame in adjusted position. 7

3. A picker stick checking mechanism for a fly shuttle loom having a lay and a picker stick, said mechanism including a flexible looped check strap within which the picker stick oscillates, a bracket fixed to the lay and having a horizontal supporting ledge, an angularly adjustable frame on said bracket, a pair of spaced friction fingers on said frame arranged to engage, opposite faces of said check strap, means for pivotally securing said frame in operating position on said bracket, and means for locking said frame in adjusted position. i

4. A picker stick check mechanism for fly shuttle looms having a lay and a picker stick, said mechanism including a flexible looped check strap Within which the picker stick oscillates, means attached to the lay for supporting the strap, a bracket attached to the lay and having a horizontal shelf projected away from said lay, a supporting frame adjustably secured to said horizontal shelf, said frame comprising a rearwardly extending portion pivotally secured to said shelf the check strap, a bracket attached to the other surface of the lay and having a projecting horizontal portion, a frame pivotally secured to said horizontal portion and having a pair of spaced substantially vertical friction fingers arranged to engage opposite faces of the check strap to retard the picker stick as it nears the limit of its oscillating movement, means for locking said frame in adjusted position, and means arranged to be gripped by the operator to move said frame into adjusted position and to hold said frame in adjusted position until said frame is locked in adjusted position.

6. A picker stick check mechanism for fly shuttle looms having a lay and a picker stick, said mechanism including a flexible loped check strap Within which'the picker stick oscillates, means attached to one side of the lay for supporting the check strap, a bracket attached to the other surface of the lay and having a projecting horizontal portion, a frame pivotally secured in position on the horizontal portion of said bracket, said frame including an upper portion having an opening therein, a depending portion fixed to said upper portion and forming a friction finger for engaging the outer face of said strap, a substantially horizontal position fixed to the lower end of said depending portion, and portion extending upwardly from said second horizontal portion and forming a second friction finger for engaging the other surface of said check strap, said fingers being disposed eccentrically relatively to the opening in said upper horizontal portion, and means for pivotally connecting said frame to said horizontal portion on said bracket and for locking said frame in adjusted position.

WALTER J. BUDZYNA. 

